Form in place gasket membrane

ABSTRACT

A cartridge ( 10 ) for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material ( 16 ) includes a membrane ( 12 ) having a base end ( 18 ), a top portion ( 20 ) opposite the base end, and side wall portions ( 22 ) intermediate the base end and the top portion. The cartridge ( 10 ) also includes a reservoir ( 14 ) defined by the membrane ( 12 ). The reservoir ( 14 ) contains FIPG sealant material ( 16 ), and the membrane ( 12 ) is rupturable to express the FIPG sealant material.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for sealing fluid joints. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for sealing fluid joints with Liquid Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) material.

Liquid Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) material, such as Room Temperature Vulcanizing materials (RTV) like silicone, are widely used for sealing fluid joints as they have low material cost and can seal a variety of surface finish and flatness conditions. One example of a fluid joint that commonly uses FIPG is a gasket or seal in an engine.

In forming a joint, a particular amount of FIPG sealant is applied to the components. Too little FIPG sealant and the joint will leak, and too much FIPG sealant and the excess material may squeeze out. Excess FIPG sealant can result in anything from a minor nuisance, for example the appearance of a poor quality seal, to a catastrophic failure, for example if the sealant breaks off and plugs an internal fluid passage.

Automated application equipment is often used to provide a uniform seal bead of FIPG sealant at a particular location, however the cost of the automated equipment typically limits the use of automated equipment to high volume production at initial assembly. For low volume production, as well as rework and field repairs, the sealant is typically applied by hand with a caulk gun or similar device. Bead control of the FIPG sealant is limited when applied by hand. Often, surfaces that do not require sealant, as well as the person applying the sealant, come into contact with the sealant, which can be difficult to remove. Further, when too much sealant is applied, an attempt to remove the excess often results in removing too much or too little, and can introduce dirt/debris into the seal joint.

SUMMARY

A cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material includes a membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion. The cartridge also includes a reservoir defined by the membrane.

The reservoir contains FIPG sealant material, and is rupturable to express the FIPG sealant material.

A method of sealing components with a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material includes the step of providing a cartridge having a rupturable membrane defining a reservoir of the FIPG sealant material. The method includes the steps of placing the cartridge between the components to be sealed, positioning the components in the arrangement to be sealed, and rupturing the membrane with a compressive force imparted by the components as the components are positioned in the sealed arrangement. The method also includes the step of expressing the FIPG sealant material from the ruptured membrane onto the components to be sealed.

In another embodiment, a cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material includes a flexible membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion. The membrane defines a reservoir containing FIPG sealant material, and the membrane includes a membrane rupture surface. The membrane is rupturable at the membrane rupture surface to express the FIPG sealant material from the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a mounting member that is either integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, or is a separate member that is attached to the base end of the membrane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge containing FIPG material.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the cartridge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the mounting of the cartridge on a first component, and sealing the first component to a second component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a cartridge is indicated at 10 and includes a membrane 12 that defines a reservoir 14. The cartridge 10 is for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material 16 that is stored in the reservoir 14.

The membrane 12 has a base end 18, a top portion 20 opposite the base end, and side wall portions 22 intermediate the base end and the top portion. In the cartridge 10, the membrane 12 is generally rectangular prismatic-shaped, with two long wall portions and two short wall portions, however the dimensions of the membrane can vary. Further, the membrane 12 can have other shapes, for example rounded shapes.

The base end 18 may be disposed on an upper surface 24 of a mounting member 26. In the cartridge 10, the mounting member 26 is a generally planar, rectangular member, however other shapes and configurations are possible. The mounting member 26 may be integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, or the mounting member 26 may be a separate member that is attached to the base end 18 of the membrane 12.

The mounting member 24 may include adhesive on a lower surface 28, or alternatively, may include mechanical features, such as hooks or tabs, that mechanically engage at least one of the components to be sealed. The mounting member 24 may include both mechanical features and adhesive. It is possible that the lower surface 28 of the mounting member has a profile that mates with at least one of the components to be sealed. The mounting member 24 is configured to mount the membrane 12 in the location of the joint to be sealed.

The membrane 12 is rupturable to form a discharge outlet 30 for expressing the FIPG sealant material 16 from the reservoir 14. The cartridge 10 is positioned between the components C1, C2, . . . Cn to be sealed, for example the cartridge is adhered to one or more engine components. As the components C1, C2 are positioned in the arrangement to be sealed, for example moving one component adjacent to the at least one other component, or bringing all components together, the membrane 12 ruptures from the compressive force imparted by the components as the components are moved into position and as the components pin the membrane 12 there between. The FIPG sealant material 16 is expressed from the ruptured membrane 12 onto the components to be sealed. The FIPG sealant material 16 may be pressurized inside the reservoir 14.

A membrane rupture surface 32, such as a scored surface, may be disposed on the membrane to provide a point of localized weakness where the membrane ruptures and forms the discharge outlet 30. Other membrane rupture surfaces 32, such as an area where the membrane 12 is thinner, or a particular shape of membrane, are possible. The membrane rupture surface 32 may be located at a top portion 20 of the membrane 12, however other numbers, configurations and locations of membrane rupture surface are possible. Alternatively, the membrane 12 may not have a membrane rupture surface 32, but instead the membrane fails anywhere on the membrane to express the FIPG sealant material 16. The membrane 12 may be made of plastics, metals, or other flexible materials. The membrane 12 may be made of polymers, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) and poly vinylidene chloride (PVdC), or may be made of an elastomer.

Since the ruptured membrane 12 and the mounting member 24 are pinned between the components, they are also likely to be sealed to the components.

As such, the membrane 12 and the mounting member 24 are sufficiently small and thin to allow the FIPG sealant material 16 to seal the components together, even with the presence of the ruptured membrane and the mounting member 24.

With the cartridge 10 and the method of applying the FIPG sealant material 16 between components, a controlled amount of sealant material is expressed, and the time to assemble the joint is reduced. Also, the likelihood of introducing dirt/debris into the joint is reduced, and the likelihood of joint failure is reduced. 

1. A cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material comprises: a membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion; a reservoir defined by the membrane, the reservoir containing FIPG sealant material; wherein the membrane is rupturable to express the FIPG sealant material.
 2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the FIPG sealant material inside of the reservoir is pressurized.
 3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the membrane further comprises a membrane rupture surface that forms a discharge outlet for expressing the FIPG sealant material from the reservoir.
 4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the membrane rupture surface comprises a scored surface.
 5. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a mounting member that is one of integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, and a separate member that is attached to the base end of the membrane.
 6. The cartridge of claim 5 wherein the mounting member is a generally planar member.
 7. The cartridge of claim 6 wherein the mounting member comprises a lower surface having adhesive.
 8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the membrane is generally rectangular prismatic-shaped.
 9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the membrane is formed of plastic.
 10. A method of sealing components with a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material, the method comprising: providing a cartridge having a rupturable membrane defining a reservoir of the FIPG sealant material; placing the cartridge between the components to be sealed; positioning the components in the arrangement to be sealed; rupturing the membrane with a compressive force imparted by the components as the components are positioned in the sealed arrangement; and expressing the FIPG sealant material from the ruptured membrane onto the components to be sealed.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of expressing the FIPG sealant material from a discharge outlet formed by a membrane rupture surface.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of scoring the membrane to provide a membrane rupture surface.
 13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of pressurizing the FIPG sealant material within the membrane.
 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of mounting the cartridge on the component to be sealed with a mounting member that comprises a lower surface having adhesive.
 15. A cartridge for the application of a curable composition of Form in Place Gasket (FIPG) sealant material comprises: a flexible membrane having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end, and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion, wherein the membrane defines a reservoir containing FIPG sealant material; a membrane rupture surface disposed on the flexible membrane, wherein the membrane is rupturable at the membrane rupture surface to express the FIPG sealant material from the reservoir; and a mounting member one of integrally formed with the membrane to form a unitary body, and a separate member that is attached to the base end of the membrane.
 16. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the FIPG sealant material inside of the reservoir is pressurized.
 17. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the membrane rupture surface comprises a scored surface.
 18. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the mounting member comprises a lower surface having adhesive.
 19. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the membrane is generally rectangular prismatic-shaped.
 20. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the membrane is formed of plastic. 